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N.J. 6-year-old shooting victim mourned at funeral

Brandon Holt was laid to rest by family and friends at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Toms River, N.J. Brandon was 6 years old when he was shot while playing with a 4-year-old neighbor.
Peter Ackerman, The Asbury Park, N.J. Press

Child accidentally shot by 4-year-old friend with rifle as the two played outside.

Pallbearers including Skyler Watkins and Ronald Holt, right, carry the casket of Brandon Holt, 6, out of St. Joseph Church at the conclusion of the funeral ceremony on Saturday, April 13, 2013.(Photo: Doug Hood, The Asbury Park, N.J., Press)

Six-year-old Brandon was shot in the head Monday night, police said, by a 4-year-old playmate who had taken a .22-caliber rifle from his house. The 4-year-old fired the rifle accidentally while the two were playing outside. Brandon, the son of Ronald and Christine Holt, was pronounced dead Tuesday.

Green ribbons -- representing Brandon's favorite color -- were tied around the trees. As people walked into the church, they also wore green ribbons pinned to their jackets and green scarves and shirts.

Rose McCarthy of Manchester, N.J., who attended the funeral, did not know the Holt family well. A minister of St. Joseph's Church, she said it was the "calling of the Lord" that made her come to the service -- led by the Rev. Scott Shaffer.

"And I'm a mother, so that's why I come here, to make me feel about this boy," said McCarthy. "And for what had happened, it's a very sad story. All I know he is with God, and I'm sure he's such a good boy. Makes me cry, makes me in tears."

Emilie Zuhowski, a student at Monsignor Donovan High School, and a friend volunteered to spend time with the kindergartners at Brandon's school, St. Joseph's Grade School, instead of taking recess. Brandon was "her buddy," she said.

"I was really close to him," said Zuhowski. "He was just so different than all the other kids. He was so energetic and loved life ... he was a great kid. We just played a lot."

Her brother, Raymond Zuhowski, attends St. Joseph's Grade School and rode the school bus with Brandon every day. Brothers Kent and Drake Anzano, also St. Joseph's students, remember Brandon being energetic and always giving high-fives to students on the bus.

Brandon Holt, 6, died in a shooting accident Monday, April 8, 2013, in Toms River, N.J.(Photo: Provided to The Asbury Park, N.J., Press)

"He always made everybody laugh," said Raymond Zuhowski, 13, adding that Brandon was a jokester. "You could always count on him to put a smile on your face."

"It was never a boring bus ride," said Drake Anzano, 14.

Kent Anzano, 13, said the funeral was very touching.

Township Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher said community support for the Holt family continues to pour in.

"I think what everybody needs to do now is keep remembering," said Kelaher. "You can't help but feel like it's part of the community, you know? It's just such a tragic thing."